Motion-picture camera operation-control mechanism



June 8, 1948. v c ss q 2,442,756

MOTION PICTURE CAMERA OPERATION-CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Jan. 12, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS I. CISSKI June 8, 1948.

MOTION PICTURE CAMERA OPERATION-CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Jan. 12, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet S INV ENTOR @M B \\\\\\\\\\k \\\\\\m ATTORNEYS.

June 8, 1948.

1. CISSK] MOTION PICTURE CAMERA OPERATION-CONTROL MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 12, 1946 gVENTOR 1 o www ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 8, 1948 MOTION-PICTURE CAMERA OPERATION- CONTROL MECHANISM Irving Cisski, Schiller Park, 111., assignor to Ampro Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 12, 1946, Serial No. 640,949

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the control mechanism for motion picture cameras.

In the use of motion picture cameras it is desirable to be able to so control the operation of the motor as to make either a single exposure or a continuing series of exposures. Moreover, it is desirable to render inoperative the mechanism which controls the makin of exposures at the moment when the film is being placed in or removed from the camera or when the pull or torque of the motor has dropped below a point where it will operate the film-shutter and -transport mechanism with a speed required for the effective taking of pictures.

The main objects of this invention, therefore, are to provide an improved control mechanism for the exposure-operating mechanism of motion picture cameras which will permit making exposures one at a time or in the usual rapid succession; to provide improved control mechanism of this kind with which is incorporated means adapted to render the operatin mechanism ineffective when the film is being placed in or removed from the camera housing or when the torque of the motor has dropped below a predetermined point; and to provide control mechanism of this kind which is particularly suitable for motion picture cameras of the type where the film is encased in a magazine by the film manufacturer for return to it for processing.

The preferred embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanyin drawings, on a scale considerably larger than actual size, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a motion picture camera wherewith has been incorporated the improved operating control mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged transverse sectional view of the camera showing in elevation the related parts of a control mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention and its association with the torque-controlled actuator and the magazine-operated cam member, the predetermined movement of either of which is adapted to render the operatin mechanism ineffective;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of the control mechanism, and the torque-controlled actuator shown in Fig. 3, with the parts shifted to permit a certain operation of the film-shutter and -transport mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a similar view but showing the relative position of the parts when the torque-controlled actuator has rendered them ineffective for of the same,

controlling the exposure-operating mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the relative position of these operating parts when the magazine-controlled cam member has rendered them ineffective to control the exposure-operating mechanism.

A motion picture camera embodying this improved control mechanism for the exposure-operating mechanism comprises, a housing [0 divided by a vertical partition H to form a magazine compartment l2 and an operating-mechanism compartment l3, in the latter of which is arranged a motor (not shown) in association with a torque-controlled actuator Hi. The usual train of gears (not shown) connects the motor to operate a film-shutter and -transport mechanism (not shown) as permitted by this improved control mechanism I5, unless it is otherwise rendered inefiective by a movement of the torquecontrolled actuator H or the magazine-controlled cam member IS.

The housing In is provided with a hinged door I! which when open permits the insertion of a magazine into or its removal from the compartment l2 and the consequent control of mechanism effecting the shifting of the cam member l6, as will more fully appear from co-pending application Serial No. 640,951, filed January 12, 1946. At the front of this housing is an end cap l8 wherein is mounted a film-shutter and -transport mechanism of the type disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 640,952, filed January 12, 1946, and on which is mounted a lens turret I9.

The construction and operation of torquecontrolled actuator I4 is fully disclosed in copending application Serial No. 640,957, filed January 12, 1946. This actuator 14 comprises an arm 20 swingably mounted on a shaft 2| to which the spring of the motor is attached. The arm has a limited swinging movement in opposite directions under the force of the torque of the spring motor or the adjustable resilient means 22--depending upon which is the strongeras may be permitted by the engagement of the shoulders 23 and 24 against the pin 25. The torque of the spring motor is exerted on the arm 20, by means of discs 26, 21, and 28, so as to swing the arm counterclockwise, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 3. 'The peripheries of the discs 26 and 21 are urged into contact with the periphery of the disc 28 by means of a spring 29.

Up to a certain point in its unwinding, the torque of the spring motor will hold the arm 20 in what might be termed its retracted position, with the shoulder 23 pressing against the pin 25. When the torque drops so that its force on the arm 2% becomes less than the pressure exerted by the adjustable resiiient means 22, the bottom of the armmdl-l be -swung in a icloekwise direction so as to rendert e control me hanism 1 5 inoperative, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

The control mechanism l5 herein shown comprises, a trigger bar 39, a pin-retracting lever (ii, a cam rocker arm 32, and a cam lever d3, gsoassoelated that upon the shifting of a startin'g dial (see Fig. 1), the spring motorlwillsoause th th neration of the film-shutter and: atransportemech anism, unless the operative relationship, of the afore-named parts has been rendered ineffective v by a shifting of the torque=actuated armNor the magazine-controlled cam member l5. 1-

The trigger bar 33 approximates the form a T, with thestem 35 extending nearly the full length of the housing an and with the transverse part .36 located near the forward end ofsthe housing-ladjacent to the end cap J8; wherein is enclosedthe film-shutten and transportmechanism? The trigger .bar iseslot'ted at stand .33 whereby it is slidably supported on the pin which is secured tolthe partition H, and .a bushing st -mounted onalnaehinescrew- 3,9 secu-red'to the'fadjacent 5 housing H115 The bar .313 is guided in its sliding l movement Joy havingithe upper end of theitransversepart 36 received inflangedf roller 48 mountedeon a =plate '41 secured to the housing 4.0, by means oflscrews 42.- As will be noted morevpare ticularlyfroin Fig. 4., the trigger .arm series the forward.andvimr portions or. the stembfiset at 43 so that the forward. portion of. the sterner) and-thev transverse part afi arelocatedabout half way between .the partition I l...and. the adjacent Wall of {the housing .1 0.

Tongues .orstops Attend 45 are upsetifrom the transverse part 36 of the trigger-bar 313 so that upon thesh-ifting of-thetrigger'bar 3h one orathe th may henlOVBdalIltOflIJ-d out oteng-agement 40 withasshoulder 46 0 a trigger :eam A? "The team ll rl'heing connected to the lmotor .mechanis through a-suitable-igearrtrain, rotates in the direction of the arrow 48 when-the-trigger bar 36 is .shitted to move one or the other ofsthe stops 44 ci -445 011; osthe' path of .Said.t1;igger :cam shoulder 46- The=tr sger=b r 39 1 11 411 its-normal or. neutral pos1t1on ,.with the step enga ed bathe s ulders-.6 onthecam disc i m ans of a hairpin-shaped spring 49 secured attheu-pper end or theplate 4 sothat the. ends 59 oiithe spring bearyagainst-and are :retained in. position by the flanged :ears 5| formed on the upper end of the transverse part 36'.oi;said. -trig ger-.bar -38. Com- 65 p rable flal'lgeol-sears-t2 formed onthe bracket 4l*;: engage.-.the respective-legs of the-springl 49 andlimit them to movement in. but one direction. A m-shaped slot-5;! isnformed in-rthezstem 35 ofthei-triggerz bar 39, alittle less-than half the distance of its 1 length 1 from 'the Y .transversei part 36,- J-Ihe'slot 53 Iecei-vesa pin 54 carriedion-sthe pin-retme ing l ver 3 .l.

P flhe p ntract n lev rfltl simulates the hape eftaepistelzand issnpportedon he-ztrieeerbar 30 on a'silidine pivot form d ye Pin 55 secured to the tri ger bar '39 andextend-ing through a-slot 56 'iermed in the forward end Of'the pin retracting-lever 3!. spring ,5]-,-"secured-by a pim 55 on the trigger bar 38, has the end EQrtheleof received ihJasslot 6B formed in'the'rpin 55.;and the other: end 6 lrzpressing againstaxpin 62; on :therpinretracting lever -3l.;1:.The:pin 54 isthereby'urged into. thedoottom ot theistem of the frfi-shape'd -slot 53 'inthe trigger baii 30; soithat thetrigger bar 30 secured to the partition Ii.

and the pin-retracting lever 35 will move as a unit, and the bottom edge 63 of the rear end of thel pin-tretracting lever -isl is positioned for engagementby a shoulder 64. on the cam rocker arm 32, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

l :.The cam rocker arm 32 is pivoted to a pin 65 With the camera in -i-ts-normal upright position the weight of the -c'am rooker arm 32 retracts it from the edge 63 oft-he lever 31, unless, perchance, the balance of the cam lever vsits riould be such that the engagement of theehook'fie with the shoulder 6'! on the cam lever 33 will cause the shoulder is on the cam rocker arm '32 to be held in contact with said dge/-53. On the other hand, the balance of the cam lever 33 may be such that the lower edge of the shoulder part E4 mayrest on the bottom of the" camera housing; Should the camera be placed in an inverted position, the weight of the cam 'ro'c'kenarin 32 will cause the shoulder E4110 rest against the edge 63 of thepin-retractinglever 3]. However, the spring "5?. will prevent thecam rockerzarm 32 from having any effeet on the 1ever'3l. I v

' "The camlever 33 ispivoted. on a pin edsecu'red to the partition .I l. The pin 68 'is positioned in the cam lever: 33 so that the end 53 of the lever overbalances theother'end. Thus the shoulder 511s normally heldagains't the hook es of the .cam rocker-arm 32. "This mounting of the cam lever 33 locates theinclined surface it of the end 69 v in the Path of the magazine-controlled cam .mem-

berdfi; so that. the movement of thelatter to the right or Fig awm depress the outer end 69 Of-the cam lever 33.. This, in turn, will causeanielevation ofthe rocker arm 32 so as to raise the inner V end of theipin retracting lever 3iand render the control mechanism '15 inoperative, as will more fully hreinafterappear.

The starting dial 34 (see .Fig. 1)., which is mounted on the external right-hand side of the camera housing ill-is connected toadisc H (see Fig; 3) journaled on the hou-singandmounting apin 72lon the innercface thereof. The pin I2 extnds into an elongated slot 13 formed in the pi etraoting-lever 3| inivertical alinement with theistemi part of the T-slot 53 in-the trigger ,The mounting of the trigger :cam t? and its connection with a spring motor is not shown herein.- lhe details of this, however, are shown in co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 640,955,--filed January 12;1946W It will be understood, however, that this trigger cam 41 is mounted on a suitable shaitand-normally driven bya motor through a suitable gear train in a clockwise direction as indicatedby the arrow 48 in Fig. 5.- A winding earn 4-! :will be held against rotation by: the stop 7 Mjonthetrigger bar 30.

All of the parts will be in the position of rest shown in Fig. 3.' Thetorque of'the motor acting througlr -the shaft 2| and the-discs 26,2'Land- 2B will ten'd to swin'g the :arm 2e against the action of the adjustable resilient means 22. This will bring the shoulder 23 into contact with the pin 25. Whether the operator wants to take one picture or a continuous run, the functioning of these parts will be the same. However, for the purpose of simplicity, the functioning will be described only as it relates to a continuous run. For that purpose the operator shifts the control dial 34 in the direction of the Run arrow shown thereon (see Fig. 1). This movement of the dial shifts the pin 12 clockwise, as viewed from Fig. 3. The pin 12, being in engagement in the slot 13 formed in the pin-retracting lever 3|, shifts said lever to the right of Fig. 3. By reason of the fact that the pin 54 on the lever 3| is held in the stem part of the slot 53 in the trigger bar 30, by means of the spring 51, the movement of the lever 3| causes a simultaneous movement of the trigger bar 30, to the right of Fig. 3 against the action of the left-hand leg of the spring 49. This movement of the trigger bar 30 retracts the stop 44 from the path of the shoulder 46 on trigger vcam 41 and allows it to rotate in a clockwise direction. The consequent freedom of the motor to operate will cause a constant movement of the film-shutter and -transport mechanism in the manner set forth in the aforesaid co-pending application Ser. No. 640,952. This operation of the film-shutter and -transport mechanism will continue until the starting dial 34 is released. The release of the dial 34 permits the tensioned left-hand leg of the spring 49 to shift the trigger bar 30, and the pin-retracting lever 3|, to the left of Fig. 3, bringing the stop 44 back into the path of the shoulder 46 on the trigger cam 41,

whereupon all the parts will again be in rest position.

If the starting dial 34 is shifted in the direction of the one arrow (see Fig. 1), the trigger bar 30, because of the connections and the movement of the parts previously referred to, will move to the left of Fig. 3. This will move the stop 44 on the trigger bar 30 out of the path of the shoulder 46 on the trigger cam 41, but will move the stop 45 into the path of the said trigger cam shoulder. This will allow the trigger cam to rotate slightly less than one complete rotation. The position of the trigger bar 30, pin-retracting lever 3|, cam rocker arm 32, and cam lever 33 for such a shifting of the operating dial 34, is shown in Fig. 6.

When the starting dial is released from the one direction shift the stop 45 will be retracted,- but the trigger-bar stop 44 will be moved back into the path of the shoulder 48 on the trigger cam 41, allowing the parts of the control mechanism to again come to rest.

The resilient means 22 is so adjustable that, if at any time during the revolving of the trigger cam 41 the torque of the motor begins to approach a condition where it would not move the filmshutter and -transport mechanism with proper speed, the lower end of the arm 20 will move to the left of Fig. 3. This movement of the arm will continue as the torque drops until the lower left-hand end of the arm 20, acting as a cam, swings the left-hand end of the rocker arm 32 upwardly around the pin 85, causing the shoulder 64 to lift the pin-retracting lever 3|, shifting the pin 54 out of the stem part of the T-slot 53 in the trigger bar 30. When the pin 54 enters the transverse part of the T-slot 53, the spring 49 causes the trigger bar 30 to move independently of the pin-retracting lever 3| to its rest position.

The previous retraction of the trigger bar 30 in either direction, as hereinbefore explained,

will place one leg or the other of the spring 48 under tension. Thus the shifting of the pin 54 into the transverse part of the slot 53 will allow the spring 49 to return the trigger bar 30 to its normal position. This will move the stop 44 into the path of the trigger cam 41, and arrest further operation of the film-shutter and -transport mechanism, regardless of the fact that the starting dial 34 may still be held in the Run position.

The relative positions of the trigger vloar 30 to the pin-retracting lever 3|, the cam rocker arm 32, and cam lever 33, under the circumstance just described, are shown in Fig. '7.

As explained in the aforesaid co-pending application Serial No. 640,951, when a film magazine is removed from the magazine compartment l2 of the camera housing III, the cam member I6 is shifted to the right of Fig. 3. This shifting of the cam member l6 causes it to contact the inclined surface 10 on the cam lever 33 and depress the outer end 69 thereof. Such depression of the lever 33 will cause the shoulder 61, engaging the hook 66 on the rocker arm 32, to elevate the shoulder 64 thereby lifting the pin-retracting lever 3!. As hereinbefore explained, this will move the pin 54 from the stem part into the transverse part of the T-shaped slot 53 in the trigger bar 30. This releases the trigger bar 33, permitting the spring 49 to return the trigger bar to its normal position, with the stop 44 located in the path of the trigger cam 41. The relative positions of the several parts under such action of the cam l6 are shown in Fig. 8.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that whenever the motor is rewound, or whenever the cam member I6 is retracted, the spring 51 will return and hold the pin 54 on the lever 3| in the bottom of the step of the T-shaped slot 53 so that the camera is ready for operation.

Variations and modifications in the details of structure and arrangement of the parts may be restored to within thespirit and coverage of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a motion picture camera, the combination with a motor-driven film-shutter and -transport shaft having a trigger pawl rotatable therewith, of a trigger bar movable into and out of the path of said pawl, resilient means normally urging said bar into the path of said pawl, other mean normally engaging said trigger bar and adapted to be actuated for shifting said bar against the action of said resilient means to retract said bar from engagement with said trigger pawl, normallyretracted means actuatable for releasing said other means from operative engagement with said trigger bar, and a pair of members each independently shiftable into and out of position to engage and actuate said normally-retracted means to effect the release of said other means from engagement with said trigger bar.

2. In a motion picture camera, the combination with a motor-driven film-shutter and-transport shaft having a trigger pawl rotatable therewith, of a trigger bar movable in either direction into and out of the path of said pawl, resilient means normally urging said bar into the path of said pawl, other means normally engaging said trigger bar and adapted to be actuated for shifting said bar against the action of said resilient means to retract said bar from engagement with said trigger pawl, normally-retracted means actuatable for releasing said other means from operative engagement with said trigger bar, and a pair of members connected to different movable parts of games-o said camera mechanismand independently shiftable into and out of position to engage and actuate said normally-retracted means to efiect the release of saidother means from engagement with'said trigger bar.

3; In a motion picture camera, the combination with a motor-driven film-shutter'and -transport shaft having a-triggerpawl rotatable therewith, of a trigger bar movable into and out of the path of said pawl, resilient means normally urging said bar into thepath of saidpawl, other-means normally engaging said triggerbar and adapted to be actuated for shifting said bar against the action of said resilient means to-retract said bar from engagement with said trigger pawl, normally-retractedmeans actuatable for releasing said other means from operativeengagem'ent with said trigger bar; and a pair of members shiitable into and out of position to engage said normally-retracted means to effect the release of said othermeans from engagement with said trigger bar, one of said membersbeing positioned to be shiftedinto and out of engagement with-said other means by the removaland replacement respectively of the film means in said camera; the other said member being positionedto be shifted'into and out of' engagement with said other-meansbya condition ofthe camera motor mechanism.

4. In a' motion picture camera, the combination with a motor-driven film-shutter and "-transport shaft having a trigger'pawl rotatable therewith, of a tiigger bar movable into and out of the path of said pawl, resilientmeans normally urging said barintothe path of said pawl, a lever bar mounted on said trigger bar on 'a sliding pivot, interlocking shoulders on said lever bar' an'dtri'gger bar; resilient means normally urging said lever barrelative to said trigger bar to hold said shoulders in interlocking engagement to permit the concurrent movement ofsaid bars,'a rocker'arm pivoted adjacent to said triggerbar and having a'shoulder adapted for contact with sai-dlever' bar, acam lever pivoted in position to engage' said rocker arm, cam members one of which is adapted to engage said rocker arm and the other of'which isadapted to engag said camlever, the movement of either ofsaid cam members being adapted to shift said leverbar to disengage 'sai'dinterlocking shoulders, and means for effecting the movement of said'carns. i

5; Tina motion picture camera, the combination with a motor-driven film-shutter and tra'nsport shaft having a trigger pawl rotatable therewith, of a trigger bar movable into and out of the-path of said pawl, resilient ineans normally urging said bar into the path of said pawl, a lever bar mounted on said trigger bar on a slidin pivot, interlocking shoulders on said lever bar an'd'trig- 'ger bar, resilient means normally urging said lever bar relative to said trigger bar to hold said shoulders in interlocking engagement to permit the concurrent movement of said bars, a rocker armpit/oted adjacent tos'aid' trigger bar and hav ing a shoulder adapted for contact with said lever bar, a cam'lever pivoted in position to engage said rocker arm, and cam members one of which is adapted to engage said'rocker armand the other of which is adapted to engage said cam-lever, the movement of'eithe'r of said cam members being adapted to shift said lever bar foo-disengage said interlocking shoulders; one of said cam members being *actuatable by the removal and replacement respectively of the film means in said camera,

the-otheris'aid cam memberbeing actuatableby means influenced by a'condition of the camera motor mechanism.

6. In a motion picturecamera, the combination with a motor driven film shutter-andetransport shaft having a trigger pawl rotatable therewith, of a trigger bar having a pair of stops thereon adapted to be moved into and out of the path of said pawl-through the opposite shifting of said trigger bar to permit a single or continuous rotation .of said shaft, a spring normally urging said trigger bar into aneutral position to arrest the rotation of said shaft, a lever bar mounted on said. trigger bar on a sliding pivot, a pin on said lever bar extending into a- T-slot in said triggerbar, a spring onsaid trigger bar normally urging said lever bar to position said pin' in the stem part of said T-slo-t, a rocker arm pivoted adjacent to said trigger bar and having a shoulder adapted for contact with said-lever bar, a hook on said rocker arm, a cam lever pivoted adjacent to said lever-bar and adapted to engage said hook, and a pair of ,cammembers positioned adjacent to said lever barandsaidcam lever respectively so as to individually effect a shifting of said rocker arm to disengage said. pin from said T-shaped slot.

7. In a motion picture camera, the combination with-a housing having a magazine compartment and a motor-mechanism compartment, theiformer having means therein shiftable incident to the insertion and removal of the magazine from said compartment and the latter having a motor therein connected to operate a film-shutter and -transport shaft to which is rotatably connected a trigger pawl, of a rocker arm connected to be swung in -0ne' direction by the torque of said motor, yielding means counteracting the swing of said armand adapted to shift it in the opposite direction when the torque of said motor drops below a predetermined amount, a trigger bar movable into and out of the path of said trigger pawl, resilient means normally urging said trigger bar into the path of said trigger cam, a lever bar mounted on said triggerbar on a sliding pivot, interlocking shoulderson said lever bar and trigger bar, other resilient means normally. urging said lever bar relative to said trigger bar to hold said shoulders in interlocking engagementto' permit the concurrentmovement of said bars, a second rocker arm pivoted adjacent to said trigger bar and having a shoulder adapted for contact with said lever bar, cam means formed on said first rocker arm and positioned to engage and shift said second rocker arm to release said lever bar from said trigger bar when said yielding means shifts said first-mentioned rocker arm against the dropping torque of said'motor, a'sec- (and cam member located adjacent to said cam lever and connected to be operated by said magazine-controlled means to retract said cam "lever forshifting said second rocker arm to release said lever bar from said trigger bar when a film magazine is removed from said magazine compartment.

IRVING CISSKI.

, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

v UNITED STATES PATENTS 

